UMO's Edward Olive awarded National FFA Organization honor
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on November 28, 2017 7:34 AM
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Dr. Jason Davis, left, N.C. FFA coordinator presents the Honorary American Degree to Edward Olive, associate director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at the University of Mount Olive.
MOUNT OLIVE -- Edward Olive, associate director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at the University of Mount Olive, was recently awarded the Honorary American Degree by the National FFA Organization.
Honorary American Degrees are awarded to individuals who have provided exceptional service on a national level to agriculture, agricultural education, or FFA organizations.
The awards are given annually at the National FFA Convention.
Olive earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture education from UMO in 2012. He began working in the Agribusiness Center the following November.
During his time at UMO, Olive has received the 2016 N.C. Honorary State FFA Degree and the May 2017 Extraordinary Employee award.
"Edward is a leader and visionary," said Dr. Sandy Maddox, director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center. "He has been instrumental in helping the University of Mount Olive's Agriculture Division to grow in enrollment and the Agribusiness Center to fulfill its mission in the agriculture community.
"His impact has been recognized regionally and at the state level and now at the national level. This honorary national award recognizes his influence in FFA and ag education and his consistent efforts to advance agriculture and student success. I am thankful to have Edward on our UMO team."
Olive resides in Newton Grove with his wife, Shannon, and their, son Elliot.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values.
The university, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville and in Smithfield at Johnston Community College.
For more information, visit www.umo.edu.